scholarly journals The Association between Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Hani Raoul Khouzam ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Obstructive Sleep Apnea ◽  
Sleep Apnea ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Sleep Fragmentation ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Accurate Identification ◽  
Sleep Related Breathing Disorders ◽  
Treatment Interventions ◽  
Appropriate Treatment ◽  
Obstructive Sleep

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)is a type of sleep-related breathing disorders which is associated with frequent awakenings leading to sleep fragmentation. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disorder that is also associated with sleep fragmentation and disruption. A possible link between OSA and PTSD needs to be accurately identified in patients who present with either OSA or PTSD. This article will review the diagnostic criteria of OSA and PTSD, the proposed link between these two distinct clinical entities and the treatment interventions for both disorders. The accurate identification and appropriate treatment of OSA and PTSD would ultimately prevent sleep disruption and its serious medical and mental complications, leading to improved functioning in patients whose lives are adversely impacted by these disabling medical and mental disorders.

scholarly journals A Narrative Review of the Association between Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Obstructive Sleep Apnea

2022 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 415
Author(s):  
Catherine A. McCall ◽  
Nathaniel F. Watson
Keyword(s):  
Obstructive Sleep Apnea ◽  
Sleep Apnea ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Disturbed Sleep ◽  
Obstructive Sleep ◽  
Dose Dependent Fashion ◽  
Post Traumatic

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are often co-morbid with implications for disease severity and treatment outcomes. OSA prevalence is higher in PTSD sufferers than in the general population, with a likely bidirectional effect of the two illnesses. There is substantial evidence to support the role that disturbed sleep may play in the pathophysiology of PTSD. Sleep disturbance associated with OSA may interfere with normal rapid eye movement (REM) functioning and thus worsen nightmares and sleep-related movements. Conversely, hyperarousal and hypervigilance symptoms of PTSD may lower the arousal threshold and thus increase the frequency of sleep fragmentation related to obstructive events. Treating OSA not only improves OSA symptoms, but also nightmares and daytime symptoms of PTSD. Evidence suggests that positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy reduces PTSD symptoms in a dose-dependent fashion, but also presents challenges to tolerance in the PTSD population. Alternative OSA treatments may be better tolerated and effective for improving both OSA and PTSD. Further research avenues will be introduced as we seek a better understanding of this complex relationship.

scholarly journals Differential associations of hypoxia, sleep fragmentation, and depressive symptoms with cognitive dysfunction in obstructive sleep apnea

SLEEP ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ridwan M Alomri ◽  
Gerard A Kennedy ◽  
Siraj Omar Wali ◽  
Faris Ahejaili ◽  
Stephen R Robinson
Keyword(s):  
Obstructive Sleep Apnea ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Sleep Apnea ◽  
Sustained Attention ◽  
Sleep Fragmentation ◽  
Sleep Disruption ◽  
Visuospatial Ability ◽  
Treatment Interventions ◽  
Visuospatial Deficits ◽  
Obstructive Sleep

Abstract Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is characterized by recurrent episodes of partial or complete cessation of breathing during sleep and increased effort to breathe. This study examined patients who underwent overnight polysomnographic studies in a major sleep laboratory in Saudi Arabia. The study aimed to determine the extent to which intermittent hypoxia, sleep disruption, and depressive symptoms are independently associated with cognitive impairments in OSA. In the sample of 90 participants, 14 had no OSA, 30 mild OSA, 23 moderate OSA, and 23 severe OSA. The findings revealed that hypoxia and sleep fragmentation are independently associated with impairments of sustained attention and reaction time (RT). Sleep fragmentation, but not hypoxia, was independently associated with impairments in visuospatial deficits. Depressive symptoms were independently associated with impairments in the domains of sustained attention, RT, visuospatial ability, and semantic and episodic autobiographical memories. Since the depressive symptoms are independent of hypoxia and sleep fragmentation, effective reversal of cognitive impairment in OSA may require treatment interventions that target each of these factors.

A-139 Relationship between Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Neurocognitive Performance in a Veteran Population with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Symptomatology

2021 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
pp. 1192-1192
Author(s):  
Julie Gretler ◽  
Valerie Alipio Jocson ◽  
Christopher Dominguez ◽  
Marcel Chen ◽  
Art Noda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Obstructive Sleep Apnea ◽  
Sleep Apnea ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Neuropsychological Testing ◽  
Hierarchical Regression ◽  
Apnea Hypopnea Index ◽  
Neurocognitive Performance ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Obstructive Sleep ◽  
Attentional Difficulties

Abstract Objective Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is associated with neuropsychological challenges, including attentional difficulties (Kim et al., 2017), and commonly comorbid with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in veteran samples (Yesavage et al., 2014). We further explore the relationship between OSA and cognition in veterans with PTSD symptomatology. Method 58 veterans (6 females; mean age = 57.53 years, SD = 13.63) with OSA were screened as part of a larger outpatient study at Palo Alto VA Hospital, completing neuropsychological testing and Clinician Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5) interview. Mean Apnea Hypopnea Index (AHI) was 23.95 (SD = 15.97). Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) therapy had not started at the time of screening. Domain-specific composite scores were created using z-score transformation of individual test scores and hierarchical regression used. Results Initial regression model was significant (F(1,57) = 4.99, p = 0.03, R2 = 0.081) with AHI significantly predicting executive function (EF; β = −0.28, p = 0.03). Attention was then entered into the model (F(2,56) = 22.31, p < 0.01, R2 = 0.44) and significantly predicted EF (β = 0.63, p < 0.01), but AHI was no longer significant. Lastly, CAPS-5 score (last month) was entered as a covariate to control for PTSD symptom severity (F(3,55) = 14.94, p < 0.01, R2 = 0.45); however, attention remained the only significant predictor of EF (β = 0.63, p < 0.01). Conclusions Findings suggest that EF concerns related to OSA may be driven by decreased attention performance, suggesting areas to highlight when formulating recommendations and treatment planning. Further implications and directions to be discussed. Funding Acknowledgements Supported by the Research Service of the Department of Veterans Affairs (Grant Number 1I01RX001799-01A2), VAPAHCS, and Sierra-Pacific MIRECC.

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